Spike Hughes 1933 CD

In 1933, British composer/bassist Spike Hughes visited the United States and organized three recording sessions that resulted in 14 titles. Hughes used some of the top jazz all-stars of the era (including trumpeter Red Allen, trombonist Dicky Wells, altoist Benny Carter, flutist Wayman Carver, and both Coleman Hawkins and Chu Berry on tenors) on selections that he arranged and, on ten occasions, also composed. The music is advanced, picturesque, often moody, and generally swinging. A change-of-pace bonus is jammed versions of "Sweet Sue" and "Home Come You Do Me Like You Do." In addition to giving listeners the opportunity to hear both Hawkins and Berry soloing on some of the same songs, these selections find Carver taking a few of his earliest recorded flute solos. The imported CD also includes the eight titles (plus a previously unissued alternate take of "Devil's Holiday") from Benny Carter's big band dates of the year, which seems a logical matchup, since the first four titles use a similar band to Hughes'. Among the highlights overall are "Bugle Call Rag," "Nocturne," "Arabesque," "Donegal Cradle Song," "Swing It," and "Symphony in Riffs." Highly recommended to vintage jazz collectors. In fact, so pleased was Hughes with the results of his sessions that he immediately retired from jazz to become a full-time critic, feeling that he could not top the heights of these performances. ~ Scott Yanow

All compositions by Spike Hughes and Benny Carter.

Liner Note Author: Menno Daams.

Personnel includes: Benny Carter, Coleman Hawkins, Henry "Red" Allen, Bill Dillard, Chu Berry, Wayman Carver, Shad Collins, George Washington, Keg Johnson, Johnny Russell, Teddy Wilson.

JazzTimes (9/97, p.98) - "...Spike Hughes's finest hour....the importance of these recordings rests with the soloists and the sectional precision.... Follwoing the Hughes titles are the first two complete sessions by the Carter band. Here it is Carter's writing and alto work that take precedence..."